Homers: What's going right

FROG BEAT: The city of Cedar Rapids recently lent a hand to frogs. The city had to repair a sewer structure underneath property that Indian Creek Nature Center occupies. To offset disruption to the habitat, the city agreed to build ephemeral ponds. These shallow ponds, which fill in the spring and dry out in the summer, provide prime reproduction habitat for frogs and other species. Populations of frogs and toads have declined across Iowa, partially because of dwindling habitat from development over the years that destroyed ephemeral ponds.

***

DATE WITH DENTISTS: Hundreds of dentists from across the state will provide free dental care on a first-come, first-served basis when the third Iowa Mission of Mercy event comes to Cedar Rapids' U.S. Cellular Center on Nov. 5-6. More information at www.IowaMOM.org.

***

SMART RECYCLING: For two years, the city of Cedar Rapids has collected chunks of concrete and asphalt when roads were torn up for repairs. Now the city is crushing and reusing the material in this year's street repairs. The pile at hand will translate into cost savings of $10,000 in materials and $100,000 in landfill.